A 57-year-old woman died of head injuries and 22 people were injured in a pile up of nearly 35 vehicles on Yamuna Expressway Sunday morning due to dense fog.

According to police, the incident took place at about 8.30 am around 10 km away from Jewar Toll Plaza. “Two cars collided when one was trying to overtake the other. This resulted in a pile-up of nearly 35 vehicles,” said a senior police officer, adding that police received a PCR call at about 9.30 am.

Dileep Singh, Circle Officer, Jewar, said, “The incident took place because of dense fog which had reduced visibility substantially. After the two cars collided, over 30 other cars failed to see the accident and piled up on the expressway. We have been asking commuters to take safety precautions and follow traffic rules.
Such incidents can be avoided if precautions are taken.”

Police identified the woman who died as Geeta Devi Gaur, mother of a doctor from Pandav Nagar. She was on her way to Mathura. “She had received severe head injuries and was rushed to Kailash Hospital, Jewar, along with the injured,” said Singh.

Doctors said Gaur died at about 12.30 pm. “Her body has been handed over to police and they have given it to the family. Between 10.15 am and 12 pm, around 23 injured persons were brought to the hospital. Most of them had minor injuries on the head, abdomen and fractured limbs,” said A K Singh, the hospital’s medical superintendent.

While most of those injured have been discharged, two persons with severe injuries are still under observation, he added.

The incident led to an hour-long traffic jam on the expressway, which connects the capital to Agra. “Clearing up traffic took over an hour. We had to use cranes to remove the vehicles,” said the circle officer.